Ice tray



` ICE TRAY Filed June 23. 1936 www ' use in removing the tudinal partition `form ure 3.

' tudinal partitions are unattached v` y ,Ja-ian. lum,

This invention relates to'ice trays of used in domestic refrigeration.` A Moreparticw larly, the invention `concerns the provision of an ice tray and `removable grid whichfacilitates `removal of the individual ice cubes.

The removal of ice cubes from the ordinary grid and tray is attendant with much annoyance as it can be` effected only with dimculty. Not only is dimculty had in removing the frozen ice from the tray, but trouble is especially experienced vin removing the ice from the walls formingthe grid. An object of the present invention is to facilitate the removal of the ice both from the tray and from the grid.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side vview of the grid removed from view of the grid in the tray.

Figure 2 is a side positionV within a tray, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 8. n'

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2. Figure 4 ls a section on the line 4 4 of Fig the right end of Figure 3. carrier member l and a plurality of partitions 1, 8 supported thereby. The carrier member 8 is of spring material and f normally assumes the curved shape shown in Fig. 1. This member i should be so strong that it will not be permanently distorted from ordinary ice and should be sumciently yieldable to be manually bent into a straight shape as shown in Fig. 2. l i

'I'he partitions 1 are disposed transversely of the length of the carrier member i and preferably i extend beyond the sidesof the member i. 'Ihese transverse partitions are attached at their tops to the carrier member by rivets l. `The partitions 8 are disposed longitudinally of the carrier member and except for the endmost partition l' are attached at one vertical side to the transverse partitions, centrally thereof. The partition 8' is separately connected at `one side thereof. It should be noted that the tops oi' the longito the carrier i member and that the vertical sides of the longi-` tudinal partitions opposite from the attached 'vertical sides are unattached to the adjacent transverse partition although in close relation thereto. A transverse partition and its connected lungia connected paix'y independent of the other connected pairs of partitions. As a result of this construction the carrier Figure 5 isa view on The grid includes a member is substantially as free to ilex throughz cuz-ues) u f so that the ice cannot. consequently,

member is not interfered with.

ywithin the tray vmrmsm-ri-:SHumanmp y sneeuwman outitsllengthas were not present. v y

'lhe endmost longitudinal 'partitions lle in-v wardly of the extremecnds ofthe carrier `member i. fOnaproiecting end of the carrier-member 5 is'preferablvlonger to form a handle `or linger receiving portion Ii. A depression I2 is formed across the can'ier member inwardly ofthe portion Ii thereof.

The tray il is of a site ot the longitudinal Aancltransverse partitions should preferably closely tit the sides of the `tray willbe substantially completely than the height of the partitions 1. l sothatthe carrier member l is held above the ice. "Theice become frozen to the rier member and the free ilexingoi" the `carrier Io retain' the grid in" its straightened shape within the tray, the tray is provided at one end` with an overhanging hook Il and at the other end with a movable catch il. The hook i8 may preferably be an `upwardly projecting and finthe ice may bel removed upwardly. The catch Ii a lug I5 formed on the tray, and has an opening at its upper portion to receive the handle `ii of the carrier member. y

In placing the grid within the tray the carrierY member is placed with its proper end underneath the hook Il and thegrid isthenstraightened out by pressing downwardly upon the` handle portion il. me catch il gis then turned into place over the handle ii so as tofbe caughtyin the depression place. It will be noted that handle portion Il of the carrier memberfisdownwardly curved so that the catch il maybe turned thereover with greater ease. Obviously, the tray may be iilled with water either before or after the grid 4.5,

in the tray. 'I'he grid and is placed in position tray when illled with water are placed in a freezing compartment inthe usual manner.`

To obtain the frozen cubes, theeatch I l ls` moved oir the carrier member and the handle tncugn the paradossi aan Y y to receive alegria lo when the grid is straightened. The outer ends tray is or less height 1s I2 whichretains itin that the end wall ot the carrier member is flexed to assumethe position shown in Fig. l. Asthis opens the spaces between the transverse ypartitions ,it is apparentY that the ice may be readily obtained. The tendency of the carrier member to springing; the shape shown in Fig. 1 materially assists-the manualnexin'gofthegridtothisshape. It

Vwill be apparent that little eilort is required obtain the ice cubes.

Instead .of securing the partitions or fins by rivets, I `may attach the partitions to the spring plate l by welding at the points substantially where the rivets occur, or in any other suitable manner, so that the nexing of the plate i cantake place without hindrance by the fins or parti-` tions.

Afterthetrayisremovedfromtherefri erator, thecatch Il may bs released and the roomtemperaturewlllcausetheicetomelt slishtly. but to a suflicient degree to allow the resiliency of the grid to exert itself, and the grid will creep and thereby detach itself, together with the ice cubes, from the tray.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice tray grid comprising an elongated strip-like carrier member normally longitudinally curved, said carrier member being of spring material so that it may be straightened, a plurality of partitions aiiixed to the convex side of the carrier member and disposed transversely thereof, and a plurality of partitions amxed each to one of the transverse partitions but free of the carrier member and other transverse partitions so as not to interfere with the free flexing of the carrier member.

2. An ice tray arid according to claim 1 in which the longitudinal partitions are each of a size to closely nt one of the spaces between adjacent transverse partitions when the carrier member is straightened.

- JAMES H. MINER. 

